News
News Restricting Authority from Arresting Erring Motorists Fake, Says LASTMA Boss
The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, has said that the attention of authority has been drawn to a fake news, posted yearly purportedly announced by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu quoted thus; “…Henceforth no LASTMA Officials (sic) should arrest (sic) any motorist, either commercial or private. The duty of LASTMA is to manage traffic and not to arrest anyone. I have heard a lot of complaint(sic), any Officials (sic) that violate the rule of his work, will be severely dealt with.”
“If at any time LASTMA Officials makes attempt to arrest you or forcefully enter your car, Don’t (sic) argue with them just allow the LASTMA to enter your car and call these numbers…”. 08129928600. 08129928550. PLEASE KINDLY SHARE.
A statement signed by the Asst. Director, Public Affairs, Filade Olumide, quoted Oreagba as saying that this is about the fourth time/year that this story is making the rounds on social media by transmuting from the first one and second (created as a flyer) to this fourth one written like the pronouncement of the Governor, he recollected that the company that generated the first fake news had since apologized, retracted and pulled down the news from the company’s site earlier this year.
The General Manager further explained that the primary duties of the agency among other things; is traffic control and management which includes the arrest of traffic law violators/recalcitrant drivers as stated in the Law setting up the agency. This same law was reviewed by the Lagos State House of Assembly in the Year 2018 principally with that of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service known as the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, hence the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer; our number one law abiding citizen and law enforcement officer in the State would not flout the law let alone provide the opportunity for others to do so.
He therefore, enjoined the law abiding citizens of Lagos State and visiting drivers that come into the State, to at all times adhere strictly to the traffic law of the State in order to avoid facing the consequences of flouting it, he also further advised that “we must all have a change towards positive attitude of obeying the Laws of the State which were made for the benefit of all, for orderliness and for fast paced socio-economic improvement of individuals, corporate entities and generality of the people”.
Oreagba also stated that we are taking stock, restructuring and re-strategising of our beats of strategic intersections/ junctions to eliminate frictions, reduce delays and ensure better flow of traffic. We are aware of the traffic congestion suffered by commuters as a result of the road reconstruction, infrastructure renewal, illegal vehicular movements such driving against the normal flow of traffic, BRT Violation, Illegal Parking along the raod-ways and the general lack of respect for driving ethics by some motorists. In all, the safety of all Lagosians, Visitors and Law Enforcement Agents on Lagos roads as well is equally paramount.”
The General Manager hereby assures members of the public who may have been going through harrowing traffic experience in the hands of lawless motorists on Lagos roads to take succor in the fact that LASTMA has fully returned to manage the road traffic.
Oreagba thanked all road users for their support and cooperation with LASTMA which has culminated in the reduction in travel time. He asked that all stakeholders should look forward to better days ahead.
Filade Olumide
Asst. Director, Public Affairs. March 7, 2022
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, declined a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, in his ongoing defamation trial.
Sowore is being prosecuted over comments made on social media in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The Federal government argues the statement contravenes provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as sections of the Criminal Code, and is capable of inciting public disorder.
Director of Public Prosecutions, M. B. Abubakar, told the court that Sowore’s remarks amounted to cyber harassment and criminal defamation under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act and Sections 59 and 375 of the Criminal Code.
He insisted the activist must be held accountable for using digital platforms to malign the President.
During proceedings, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, urged the court to issue a bench warrant, arguing that Sowore had been duly served with the charge and hearing notice but failed to appear.
He described the absence as a clear disregard for judicial authority.
According to Kehinde, allowing such conduct to go unchallenged could undermine the court’s authority — particularly in politically sensitive matters involving state institutions.
He also dismissed a letter submitted by activist Deji Adeyanju seeking an adjournment on Sowore’s behalf, describing it as an attempt to delay the case.
However, presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, declined the request. He ruled that it would be premature to issue a bench warrant because the second defendant in the matter, X Corporation (formerly Twitter), had not been properly served with the charge sheet.
The judge held that due process in serving all defendants must be completed before any coercive orders can be considered.
Counsel to X Corporation, Christabel Ndiokwelo, confirmed that although her client received the hearing notice, the formal charges had not yet been served.
Counsel to META (Facebook), Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), was also in court.
He aligned with the government’s position, describing Sowore’s absence as deliberate. He also dismissed Sowore’s claims that social media companies were collaborating with the DSS to censor him as “baseless and diversionary.”
Justice Umar adjourned the case to December 2, 2025, for proper arraignment, and directed that fresh hearing notices and charge documents be served on all parties to prevent further delays.
Following US President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), US Senator Ted Cruz has declared that the next step is to hold Nigerian officials accountable.
Cruz is championing the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a bill designed to protect Christians and other religious minorities from widespread persecution in Nigeria.
After the CPC designation, Trump also warned of possible military action in Nigeria if its leaders failed to protect Christians in the country.
Reacting in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, Senator Cruz said he has been pushing legislation to designate Nigeria as a CPC and to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials responsible for religious persecution.
He thanked President Trump for the designation and for “fighting to stop the murder of Christians in Nigeria.”
According to Cruz, the next step is to hold Nigerian officials accountable, promising to publicly identify them in the coming weeks.
His post reads: “I’ve been pushing legislation to designate Nigeria a CPC and to impose sanctions on the Nigerian officials responsible.
“Thank you to President Trump for his leadership in imposing the designation, and more broadly, for fighting to stop the murder of Christians in Nigeria.
“Now we should take the next step and hold Nigerian officials accountable. I intend to be very explicit about who they are in the coming days and weeks.”
Last weekend, Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians.
In a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria, describing the alleged killing as a “mass slaughter.”
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.
The US president added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected claims of Christian genocide in the country.
In September, the Federal government described claims of a systematic genocide against Christians as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said portraying Nigeria’s insecurity as a religious conflict was a gross misrepresentation of reality.
“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is inaccurate and harmful.
“The federal government strongly condemns and categorically refutes recent allegations by certain international platforms and online influencers suggesting that terrorists operating in Nigeria are engaged in a systematic genocide against Christians,” he said.
Idris stressed that extremists have attacked citizens of all faiths, noting that Muslims, Christians, and even non-religious Nigerians have suffered alike.
Between May 2023 and February 2025, he said, security forces killed over 13,500 terrorists and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages.
He added that the recent capture of top Ansaru leaders and over 700 convictions of Boko Haram suspects reflected Nigeria’s progress in the fight against terrorism.
“These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith,” the minister stated.
The Oyo State High Court has granted the Peoples Democratic Party approval to proceed with its elective national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, the state capital.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to attend and monitor the exercise, Channels TV reports.
Delivering the ruling, Justice A. L. Akintola issued an interim order permitting the party to continue its convention plans without obstruction.
The decision came after an ex-parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Governor Umaru Fintiri, who heads the National Convention Organising Committee; and the INEC.
In his ruling on Monday, Justice Akintola held that the claimant presented a compelling case that warranted immediate judicial intervention.
“The motion ex-parte has merit and succeeds as prayed,” the judge ruled, granting temporary reliefs that safeguard the party’s schedule and direct all parties to allow the convention to proceed as planned.
The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing of the substantive motion for an interlocutory injunction till November 10, 2025.
The interim order, issued on November 3, 2025, was sealed by the Oyo State High Court and endorsed by its Principal Registrar, S. O. Hammed.
